HIGH ROAD AND BY-ROAD

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 1600, 31 May 1924, Page 23 (Supplement)

HIGH ROAD AND BY-ROAD

A COLUMN FOR MOTORISTS. (By "Crank.") Sparks. Motorists should keep to the left. The middle of the road is reserved for politicians. The prevailing colours for the 1924 license taps in America are black or blue plate with white numerals. Sixteen States use these colour combinations. There were 748,01)5 miles of railroad in the world in 1020. Comparing this with highway motor vehicles facilitcs, .some idea accounting for the motor truck's popularity may be gained. The valves of a new car are not so deeply seated as those on one that has been ground in once or twice,and for this reason a small amount of carbon will hinder the efficient action of the valves. Georges Carpenticr, the pugilistic idol of Prance, who has just beaten Townley, is to bocome an auto race driver. He will compete on the Lyons track next spring. The railway strike was responsible for the appearance of cars that have had cobwebs on the dashboards for years. But they went, and that was the main thing when the railway wheels were resting. There are 350,000 men employed in U.S.A. in building new highways and keeping old ones in repair—a greater force than the entire male working population of Detroit, which is the fourth largest city in the country. If the windscreen is wiped over with a film of the solution described below it will be found that the glass will remain clear and free from mist or rain spots. The solution should be made up as follows: —Common salt 1 drachm; water 1 fluid ounce, glycerine 2 fluid ounces. With the object of providing the country with a national motor fuel, the Automobile Club of Italy, in conjunction with the Italian Touring Club, has appointed a committee to draw up the conditions for a competition to be held during the coming spring of fuels having industrial alcohol as a base. Quite a good terminal for joining the high-tension lead to the spark plug may bo made from an? ordinary small brass screw eye, such as may be found on the back of a picture frame, for the attachment of the hanging wire. Trim the stranded cablo of the high-tension lead flush with tin insulation and poke the thread of 1b.3 screw eye into the centre of the wire strands. Then screw tight home. An almost immediate effect of Increasing the price of petrol in Britain has been the return to horse transport on the part of numerous largo contractors. As a result, there has been a slight increase in the average price paid for horses but :L is contended that the price of petrol makes motor transport more costly than the horsed type, particularly as fodder, etc., is very much cheaper than it was a year ago.

Winter Driving. First avoid excessive use of the "choker." After starling give the engine time to warm up somewhat before driving. Second, use a radiator cover or provide other means to allow your motor to warm up more rapidly and also to run at a higher operating temperature. A cold running motor dilutes lubricating oil much more rapidly than a hot one because all of the fuel injected into the cylinders docs not burn up. Some of it finds its way into the oil pan. Heat aids perfect combustion and the fuel which has' found its way into the crank-case will be driven off through the breather by a hot motor. Third, avoid idling for long periods or excessively slow driving. At very low speeds objectionable suction sets in tending to increase dilution. Fourth, keep your motor in good mechanical condition. Your oil consumption will indicate whether it is or not. A motor in good mechanical condition may dilute readily at idling speeds and in city driving but in cross, country higher speed service it will burn up a very perceptible amount of the oil. If, however, in both low and high speed service the oil level gauge does not indicate an apparent consumption, the rale of raw fuel dilution is reaching a dangerous stage, and the only remedy is to have the pistons and piston rings refitted. If the cylinders are out of round, tapered, or scored, have them re-ground. New rings or pistons alone are not suflicient unless the cylinders arc true. All-Weather Oar. To meet what is considered one of the most urgent motoring needs, the Institute of British Carriage Builders, with other trade organisations, has decided to oiler prizes for designs of a new type of call-weather car body. An all-weather body is ono that can be easily opened up in fine weather and completely closed in wet weather. It is considered thai no really satisfactory coachwork of this description has yet been placed on the market. Defects arc stated to be: — Noise. The vision of the driver is often im. peded when the all-weather equipment is in action. Not thoroughly watertight. Access to-the car is difficult. All-weather curtains arc often not sufficiently rigid. The absence of these defects has helped the recent popularity of the saloon types of bodies, which have one drawback —they cannot lie opened fully during fine weather. Keeping the Radiator .-Smart. Many owners who lake a pride in the paintwork of Ihcir ears seem to overlook the radiator. Those who have tried to use an enamel or other paint which dries "bright" will have learnt thai, such substances are useless for the purpose. It is possible, however, to buy from any reputable paints hop a flat black paint which is weather resisting. If an even coal, of this is applied to the radiator tubes with a fairly soft brush the general appearance of the car will be greatly improved. Motor Cycle Notes. The number of motor cycles in Italy is over 9000 greater this year than last. Brooklands track reopened last month, having been closed for the usual winter repairs. Licensed motor cycles numbered 391,057 in Britain in 1923, producing a revenue of $M ,087,313. The number or motor cycles in Europe is about rour and a-half times greater than in U.S.A. Jn the Paris-Nice trial a B.S.A. 23 h.p. and a 3 L V h.p. each- gained a gold medal. The B.S.A. team also won Ilia Pierre Bermond Cup. The long life of a motor evade nearly always depends upon Uie treatment ii, receives at the hands of 't sowner. This explains the difference in service of one machine over another of the same make. The first English stock machine trial lakes place at Scarborough. The 100 miles course is to be covered twice daily, and, though not freakish

in any way, shonlcl prove an efficient test of standard machines. The recent Paris motor show was noteworthy for the large number of small engines exhibited. The motor cycle section was filled with machines propelled by motors ranging from 100 e.c. to 175 c.c. (1 to 1J nJh, A.C.U. rating). The English tourist trophy races will he held on the Isle of Man during the week commencing June 23. There will be five races in all; 175 c.c. 250 c.c. 350 c.c, 500 c.c. for soio machines, and a side-car event with a 600 c.c. limit. The automobile division of the TJ.SDepartment of Commerce has -issued a table showing the number of motor cycles in various countries. Of a total of 1,077,935, Australia rank* fifth with 51,085 and New Zealand with 25,000, eleventh. The star motor cycling event of the year in the Argentine Republic, the 12-honr race at Buenos Aires, attracted an entry of 43 riders. E. Blanco (Harley-Davidson) won the solo event, maintaining an average speed of 75.83 3cm. per hour. The side-car event was secured by Perello • (HarleyDavidson) at an average speed of 67.08 km. per hour.